Biggar kicks Wales to a narrow success over Scotland

CARDIFF :Dan Biggar’s late drop goal proved the difference as Wales edged Scotland 20-17 in their Six Nations clash at the Principality Stadium on Saturday to register their first win of this year’s competition.

Captain Biggar marked his 100th test cap with four penalties and the 70th-minute drop in a contest that was full of exciting play in the first half but turned into a bruising physical contest after the break, when the two sides were tied at 14-14.

Tomas Francis contributed with a try for Wales while Darcy Graham scored for Scotland and Finn Russell, who was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes at a crucial juncture near the end of the game, kicked over four penalties.

Scotland were seeking a first win in Cardiff in two decades after beating England at home last Saturday but fell despairingly short.

Two early penalties had Wales into a quick lead but Scotland opened the try scoring as their forwards powered through 18 phases before flyhalf Russell spun out a long pass to Graham, who went over in the corner.

The diminutive wing still had work to do after receiving the ball, with not much space to manoeuvre on the touchline, but powered through the tackle of Louis Rees-Zammit to touch down.

Russell then slotted over three penalties for Scotland –- with one in between for the Welsh from Biggar - as they went into a 14-9 lead.

Wales pulled level with a 32nd-minute pushover try from Francis. They elected to kick a close-range penalty to touch and then successfully mauled over from the resultant lineout.

Parity at the break was maintained for the first 20 minutes of the second half as first Russell and then Biggar, who was struggling with a knee injury but played on, successfully kicked over for a 17-17 stalemate.

Wales then edged